The focus on Earth, Earth, Earth is what has left Teyla (and, indirectly, Ronon) without a concrete and stereotypical role in the show. And without stereotypes, the writers - and most of fandom - don't have the faintest idea of how to treat a character.
This is an interesting point I've not really thought of before. I agree with you on this point; it might be the structure of the first season: the focus on trying to survive and reinstitute contact with Earth. By the time we get to season 2, this pattern on focusing on Earth had been established. There was no Daniel Jackson character on the first gate team to urge a more multicultural, less ethnocentric viewpoint towards the natives. They established in the beginning that Teyla wasn't trusted by most of the expedition, which makes it hard for her to urge the viewpoint for the Pegasus natives. By the time she is an "accepted" member of the expedition, the pattern of not listening to her has been instilled.
no subject
This is an interesting point I've not really thought of before. I agree with you on this point; it might be the structure of the first season: the focus on trying to survive and reinstitute contact with Earth. By the time we get to season 2, this pattern on focusing on Earth had been established. There was no Daniel Jackson character on the first gate team to urge a more multicultural, less ethnocentric viewpoint towards the natives. They established in the beginning that Teyla wasn't trusted by most of the expedition, which makes it hard for her to urge the viewpoint for the Pegasus natives. By the time she is an "accepted" member of the expedition, the pattern of not listening to her has been instilled.